Weekday Squib: Osama bin Laden is a cat

Shrodinger’s cat

Gen Musharraf revealed a hitherto unknown side when he drew on quantummechanics to explain why the hunt for bin Laden was not getting anywhere.

(Musharraf) said it was possible that Osama bin Laden, the Qaeda leader, is still moving between remote parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan four years after the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States. “I will not negate entirely, with confidence, that he is not there,” he said. “But I will never accept anybody who says with confidence that he is there.”[NYT]

Actually, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle is also valid in the Osama context. Given that Osama frequently flits between Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is pretty obvious that it is impossible to accurately determine (simultaneously) his position and momentum!

Actually, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle is also valid in the Osama context. Given that Osama frequently flits between Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is pretty obvious that it is impossible to accurately determine (simultaneously) his position and momentum!